THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 5, 1996 TAG: 9605030217
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JANIE BRYANT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 97 lines
AT THE TURN of the century, Portsmouth's debutantes floated up the wide stairway of the Pythian Castle to dance at cotillions.
But Wednesday, the oak stairway in the Romanesque revival building took more than 100 visitors to the new digs of the Regional Office of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
The Portsmouth-based office opened in mid-November, but last week the staff paused to welcome neighbors from Portsmouth and other parts of the eastern region they serve.
The regional office assists 19 counties and 11 cities in the use of historic resources for community revitalization, economic development, attraction of private investment, tourism and heritage education.
The open house commemorated the office's six months here and also helped kick off Virginia Heritage Tourism Weeks, May 4-19.
At the corner of Court and County streets, the Historic Resources office is the third of four regional sites in Virginia designed to bring staff and services closer to the communities they serve. The other regional offices are in Roanoke, Winchester and Richmond.
Wednesday's guests ranged from the mayor of Williamsburg and representatives of planning departments to museum staff and members of historic societies. They picked up brochures, looked at photo displays of historic areas and admired features of the new office, such as the high, embossed tin ceiling.
The renovated building, built by the Knights of Pythias in 1897, is listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places.
In the old days it housed everything from a drug store and barber shop on the first floor to the meeting and gathering areas upstairs.
It was vacant for several years but now bustles with Olde Towne's growing ambience of art and history.
The Artist's Palette Gallery downstairs offers everything from arts supplies and framing to exhibits, artist demonstrations and the new Salsa's southwestern cuisine grill.
Robert LeMasters, owner of the grill and art gallery, is expanding into the second floor of the building for artist studios.
Salsa's catered Wednesday's open house, offering guests a complete look at how a historic building can come back to life.
And that's what makes the Pythian Castle a perfect home for the historic resources staff, said Voncile Gilbreath, media relations manager for the Portsmouth Convention and Business Bureau.
``They can actually show a work in progress right there.''
Portsmouth was one of several localities that offered proposals to base the regional office in their communities. Several factors led to the decision to locate here, said E. Randolph Turner, director of the regional office.
``I think most important was the facilities they were offering were outstanding.''
It didn't have to be a historic building, he said.
``But that was very much an advantage simply because that's what we're about.''
Another plus for Portsmouth was its central location to the eastern region, which includes Hampton Roads, the Peninsula, the Northern Neck and Eastern Shore.
``Third,'' Turner said, ``it's in the center of a very large urban area with immediate needs.'' MEMO: For more information on the regional office and its services, call
396-6707. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
The open house at the Historic Resources office helped kick off
Virginia Heritage Tourism Weeks, May 4-19.
Graphic
HISTORIC TOURS
Portsmouth has scheduled several historic tours this month in
observance of Virginia Heritage Tourism Weeks, May 4-19.
They include:
Olde Towne Lantern Tour at 7 p.m. May 7, emphasizing Civil War
history as well as the historic neighborhood's architecturally
diverse homes. The guided walking tour leaves from the Portside
Visitor's Information Center.
An Olde Towne Lantern Tour at 7 p.m. May 14, emphasizing the
city's African American history, along with the architecture of the
neighborhood. The guided walking tour leaves from the Portside
Visitor's Information Center.
Historic Churches in Olde Towne Portsmouth from 6 to 8 p.m. May 9
and 16. Guided tours of Trinity Episcopal, Court Street Baptist,
Monumental Methodist and St. Paul's Catholic churches, highlighting
the role of the churches in the city's history, including the
Revolutionary and Civil War periods. The tour will leave from the
grounds of the oldest church, Trinity Episcopal, 500 Court St.
Portsmouth Familiarization Attractions Tour from noon to 4 p.m.
May 23 is designed to showcase the city's attractions to Portsmouth
residents. The tour leaves Portside Visitors Information Center.
For more information on these tours, call 393-5327.
by CNB